“A monument in honour of the late Richard Oastler, the well-known popular advocate of legislative restrictions on the hours of labour in the cotton and woollen factories of the North of England, haa been erected by public subscription in the town of Bradford, and will be unveiled with the usual ceremonies, by Lord Shaftesbury. Mr. Oastler died at Harrogate in August, 1861, The monument, which it the work of Mr. J. Birnie Philip, sculptor, consists of a group in which the principal figure is that of Richard Oastler, as if in the act of speaking. His right arm is extended in front of his body, with the hand pointing to a group of two factory children who stand at his side, and whom his left arm partly encircles. The boy stands in a rather shamefaced and modest attitude, while the girl nestles to the boy as being of her own condition, but looks up to him who is their friend and advocate. The group, which is of bronse, 10 ft. in height, is placed on a polished red and grey granite pedestal, the cornice being enriched with an incised pattern and gilt. The site is opposite the Midland Railway Station.

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References

“The Oastler Monument at Bradford.” Illustrated London News. (15 May 1869): 501. Hathi Trust web version of a copy in The University of Michigan Library. Web. 28 November 2015.